by Jackson Bale
“Bring---me---fresh---towels---or---whatever---you---have---for---cleaning.---Make---sure---they---are---clean!”
She---looks---around,---staring---at---the---makeshift---tents---connected---to---one---another.---Many---injured---are---sprawled---out---on---the---floor,---still---requiring---help.---Centaurs---move---around,---carrying---food---and---feeding---those---that---can't---feed---themselves.
She---turns---to---the---right,---watching---as---a---[Healer]---stitches---wounds---closed---before---activating---her---[Minor---Heal]---skill.---Like---her,---the---[Healer]---looks---extremely---tired.---They---have---been---up---for---several---hours,---constantly---spending---their---mana---while---trying---to---be---as---efficient---as---possible.
“You,”---Janie---yells,---pointing---at---a---centaur---who---is---holding---a---wooden---tray---of---food.
“Bring---the---[Healers]---something---to---eat---and---drink.”
The---centaur,---a---female---that---looks---to---be---part---goat,---stops---in---her---tracks,---eyes---widening---in---fear.
“NOW!”
The---centaur---squeals---before---hightailing---it---(literally)---towards---the---[Healers].
She---glares---at---the---retreating---centaur---before---looking---around,---annoyed---that---her---next---patient---isn't---in---front---of---her---yet.
“Hey---Janie,---you---seem---to---have---tak------what?”
Janie---turns---her---head,---finding---Thoric,---smiling---his---usual---cocky---smile.---He---stops---after---seeing---her---glare.
“Why---are---you---here?”
“Uh.”
“Did---you---come---to---help?”
“I---came---to---see---how---you---are---doing.”
Her---glare---intensifies,---causing---Thoric’s---cheery---smile---to---turn---into---a---panicked---one.
“I---have---been---healing---for---the---past---several---hours!---I’m---tired,---hungry,---thirsty,---and---angry---enough---to---stab---a---[Hero]---right---now.”
“Well---then…---Can---I---he-”
“LEAVE!”---Janie---yells---as---her---hand---tightens---around---a---knife.---The---yell---travels---far---around---her,---causing---all---in---the---vicinity---to---first---look---towards---her---and---then---towards---the---[Hero].
Thoric’s---eyes---widen,”---You’re---using---aura.---When---did---y-”
“NOW”---Janie---leans---forward.
“Shit.”
The---[Hero],---a---man---who---has---lived---for---eons,---seen---so---much,---killed---boss---ranked---monsters,---turns---and---runs---away.
The---centaurs---stare---at---his---retreating---form,---though---not---with---pity,---but---instead---with---envy.---After---all,---he---has---successfully---escaped---the---clutches---of---the---one---now---nicknamed---‘Tyrant---Healer’.
________________________________________
Chapter---Fourty---One:---Girly
Alissa---moves---through---her---home---quickly,---cleaning,---tending---the---fire,---making---the---beds,---and---of---course,---cooking---a---large---meal.
After---all,---her---grandpa---will---soon---be---coming---home---from---whatever---he---was---doing…---But---really,---she---just---wants---to---impress---Artyom.
After---leaving---the---food---to---simmer,---Alissa---moves---to---the---door---and---opens---it,---staring---out---into---the---surrounding---landscape.---Trees,---plants---and---grass,---it---truly---is---a---wonderful---sight,---though---a---terribly---rare---one---for---this---area.---Most---of---the---time---the---far---North---is---covered---in---snow.---Therefore---the---sight---of---greenery---is---greatly---welcomed.
Swerving---her---head,---her---gaze---finds---the---town---of---Snowbird,---though---some---would---instead---call---it---a---village---considering---it---lacks---any---walls.---Regardless,---Alissa---would---still---consider---it---a---town---by---the---number---of---people---living---in---it.
Although---most---first---time---travelers---would---immediately---list---it---as---a---large---village,---that---is---more---a---case---of---them---being---ignorant---about---the---workings---of---the---North.---After---all,---what---use---is---a---wall---if---most---of---the---[Warriors],---[Hunters],---and---[Guards]---have---a---[Minor---Strength]---bloodline.---The---town---doesn't---need---walls---if---even---a---[Farmer]---can---physically---beat---down---a---snow---wolf.
“Girly,---you’re---going---to---go---cross-eyed---staring---so---much.”
Jumping---up---with---a---squeal,---Alissa---turns---and---her---eyes---land---on---her---grandfather.---Her---several---greats---grandfather.---Calling---him---old---would---be---an---understatement,---especially---considering---the---man---in---question---is---named---and---possesses---a---third---tier---class,---increasing---his---vitality---several---times---that---of---a---regular---human.
He---is---a---mystery,---even---to---Alissa,---who---doesn't---know---his---true---age,---though---many---believe---it---to---be---in---excess---of---three---hundred---years.
“Grandpa!---You---can't---just---sneak---up---on---people---like---that!”---Alissa---glares---at---the---smiling---elder---with---his---rather---boring---looking---clothing,---graying---hair---and---long---white---beard.
The---elder---chuckles.---“Can't---help---it,---I’ve---got---so---many---movement---skills---that---I---literally---have---to---try---to---make---noise.---It's---quite---difficult.”
Her---heart---still---beating---wildly---from---the---scare,---she---shakes---her---head.---“Foods---not---ready---yet.”---she---says,---before---stopping.
“Where---were---you---this---morning?---I---saw---that---you---left---rather---early,---even---before---Artyom.”
The---old---man---smiles---when---Alissa---mentions---Artyom.---He---can---see---the---twinkle---in---her---eye,---a---sign---of---her---great---interest---in---the---big---man.
“I’ll---tell---you,---but---how---about---you---make---me---some---tea---first,”---the---elder---states---before---brushing---past---her---and---entering---the---home.
Rolling---her---eyes,---Allisa---turns---around,---stopping---suddenly---as---her---eyes---focus---on---her---grandpa,---already---sitting---and---looking---at---her---expectantly.---Her---mouth---opens---in---surprise---at---the---sheer---speed---with---which---he---can---move.---It---only---took---her---a---second---to---turn!
Closing---her---mouth---and---refusing---to---further---acknowledge---what---just---transpired,---she---enters---the---kitchen---and---finds---that---the---meat---is---still---cooking.---She---quickly---moves---and---heats---up---the---kettle.
The---kettle---she---uses---to---boil---water---is---enchanted.---After---pouring---water---into---it,---she---touches---the---crystal---handle---at---the---bottom,---immediately---causing---the---bottom---of---the---metal---to---heat---up.
Grandpa---had---brought---it---for---her---as---a---present---two---days---ago,---and---she---appreciates---it---greatly.---Her---home,---though---it---has---many---rooms,---lacks---a---large---kitchen.---In---other---words,---her---hearth---cannot---be---used---to---both---cook---food---and---heat---up---water---at---the---same---time.---It's---either---one---or---the---other.
Not---even---ten---seconds---pass---before---the---water---in---the---kettle---starts---to---boil.
“Fast.”
Still---moving---quickly,---she---grabs---dried---tea---leaves---and---put---them---into---the---kettle.---A---nice---minty---smell---wafts---from---the---small---opening.---She---smiles---and---grabs---three---cups---alongside---the---kettle---and---walks---into---the---living---room,---placing---it---on---the---table.
“Oh,---I---forgot---the---honey.”
Moving---back---into---the---kitchen,---she---grabs---the---honey---and---walks---towards---the---table---again,---only---to---find---her---grandpa---already---drinking---from---a---cup---of---tea.---She---looks---at---him---questionably.
“I---prefer---my---tea---bitter.”
Alissa---rolls---her---eyes---at---the---man.---Him---drinking---bitter---te
a---isn't---what's---on---her---mind.---No,---what---confuses---her---is---how---he---manages---to---do---so---many---things---in---mere---seconds.
But---she---already---knows---the---answer.---After---all,---her---grandfather---is---a---[Grandmaster---Martial---Artist],---the---only---one---currently---in---existence.---Strong---enough---to---earn---the---name---Untouchable.---At---least---that's---what---the---rumors---say.
Sighing,---she---sits---down---across---from---him---and---pours---herself---a---cup---of---tea---as---well,---adding---honey.---She---doesn't---share---her---grandfather's---disinterest---for---sweet---things.
“So---what---have---you---done---since---this---morning?”---she---asks,---blowing---on---her---very---hot---tea.
The---grandfather---shrugs,---“I---just---had---a---talk---with---that---innkeeper---that---fired---you.---It---is---rather---distasteful---that---he---fired---you---for---a---lower---level---[Barmaid],---even---if---the---new---one---is---taller.”
Alissa---groans---as---she---brings---her---palms---to---her---face.
“Please---tell---me---you---didn't---harm---anyone.”
“Only---about---twenty---[Guards],---several---[Mercenaries]...---And---I---may---have---created---a---new---door---in---that---Inn.”
*Bang*
Alissa’s---face---strikes---the---table,---followed---by---a---very---loud---groan.
“Whyyyyyyyy.”---she---asks.
“Because---my---granddaughter---almost---died.---What---in---Eir’s---name---gave---you---the---idea---to---go---into---the---woods---with---a---woodsman's---ax?”
Alissa---blushes---profusely---at---the---memory.---Her---anger---disappearing---instantly.
She---had---been---fired---by---the---[Innkeeper]---of---the---town.---She---had---been---angry.---So---very---angry.---She---had---worked---hard.---Cooked,---cleaned,---served---anyone---who---came---in.---Showed---respect---to---the---customers.---She---is---a---level---57---[Barmaid]---for---crying---out---loud..---One---of---the---highest---in---the---town.
So---she---became---angry---at---the---town,---blaming---them---for---being---fired.---Thus,---instead---of---doing---something---sensible---like---finding---another---job,---she---picked---up---her---father's---ax---and---went---into---the---woods---to…---hunt.
“I---was---angry.”
The---old---man---snorts.
“Angry---enough---to---go---hunting---with---an---ax---that---you---can---barely---carry.”
“Shut---up,”---she---says,---refusing---to---lift---her---head.
But---that---just---makes---the---old---man---laugh.
“You---are---lucky---Artyom---saved---you---girly.---That---frost---bear---would---have---ripped---you---apart---otherwise.---Though,---I---would---like---to---hear---the---whole---story.---Your---man---wasn't---very---descriptive.”
Blushing---profusely,---the---nineteen-year-old---finally---lifts---her---head.---”Well,---um...---So---as---I---said---before,---I---went---out---to---hunt.---Maybe---to---kill---a---rabbit---or---deer…---or---a---wolf.---And---um,---I---ended---up---walking---for---a---while---and---eventually---found---a---den.”
The---grandfather---shakes---his---head---but---still---signals---his---granddaughter---to---continue.
“I---thought---it---was---a---wolf---den---or---something.---I---figured---I---could---go---in---there,---kill---a---baby---wolf,---and---bring---it---back---home---to---cook---it.”
Alissa’s---face---takes---on---an---embarrassed---look---as---her---grandfather---fails---to---hold---in---a---chuckle.
“Ahhh,---girly,---I---would---think---you---would---have---known---more---about---hunting---considering---some---of---the---people---who---visited---your---inn---were---[Hunters].”
“I---was---angry!”---she---yells,---pouting,---her---hands---wrapping---around---her---chest.
“Bah,---and---that's---what---matters.---Survive---and---learn.---My---old---master---told---me---life---was---all---about---overcoming---trials---and---tribulations.---Now---then,---continue---Allisa.”
Sighing---out---loud,---Alissa---grabs---her---teacup---and---sips---a---little---before---continuing.
“So---I---entered---the---den,---trying---to---be---very---quiet.---The---only---sound---I---could---hear---was---soft---breathing.---The---den---was---dark,---but---I---did---see---something---moving---rhythmically.---And---then,---when---I---got---closer,---I---stubbed---my---toe---on---a---rock…---and---I---screamed.”
The---old---man---starts---to---chuckle---again,---no---longer---trying---to---keep---it---in.
“Oh---dear,---that---poor---Frost---Bear.---You---must---have---startled---it---out---of---its---mind---girly.---Probably---nearly---gave---it---a---heart---attack.”
“Grandpaaaa!!!”
“Sorry---girly,---its---just…---Ahhhhh.---Continue,---continue.---Ignore---this---old---man.”---he---says,---pouring---himself---another---cup---of---tea.
Giving---a---glaring---look---towards---her---grandfather,---Alissa---composes---herself---before---continuing---the---story.
“I---screamed---and---woke---up---the---frost---bear,---then---the---frost---bear---roared---and---I---started---running---away.---It---uh,---chased---me---into---the---woods,---probably---for---a---good---bit---before---I---fell---from---exhaustion.---When---I---fell,---I---turned---towards---the---frost---bear,---white---as---snow,---its---legs---were---raised---far---above---the---ground.---I---screamed---for---help,---and---then---a---tree---struck---the---bear.”
Listening---in,---The---old---man---perks---up---at---that.---“How---big---was---that---tree?”
Alissa---takes---a---moment---to---think---before---spreading---her---hands,---“It---was---this---wide,---and---probably---as---tall---as---two---men.”
The---old---man---frowns,---something---clearly---isn't---adding---up.---To---be---able---to---not---only---lift---a---tree---of---that---size---but---also---throw---it---requires---immense---strength.---And---considering---Artyom’s---classes,---he---shouldn't---be---anywhere---near---being---strong---enough---to---do---that.
Figuring---her---grandfather's---silence---meant---she---should---continue,---Alissa---started---talking---again.
“The---impact---of---the---tree---hitting---the---bear---changed---the---direction---of---its---charge---and---forced---it---to---the---side.---It---was---here---where---Artyom---appeared.---He---stepped---in---front---of---me,---between---me---and---the---now---very---angry---bear.---He---was….”---Alissa---blushes,---“completely---naked.”
The---grandfather---nods,---understanding---what---had---happened,---and---how---the---rumors---floating---around---came---to---be.
“He---ran---towards---the---bear---as---it---was---growling---at---him.---The---bear---then---also---ran---towards---him,---and---they---collided.---He---punched---the---bear,---and---it---went---flying---into---a---tree.---The---tree---broke---from---the---collision,---but---Artyom---didn't---wait.---He---ran---after---the---bear,---jumped---on---top---of---it---and---started---punching---it---for---probably---a---good---minute.---He---only---stopped---after---the---frost---bear---stopped---moving.”
At---this---point,---the---old---man---starts---thinking.---A---frost---bear---is---a---very---dangerous---beast,---usually---an---entire---team---of---well---equipped---[Warriors]---over---level---fifty---is---required---to---take---one---out.---But---this---man,---Artyom,---had---beaten---the---damn---thing---with---just---his---bare---fists…---and---without---a---single---class.
“So---yea,---that's---the---story.---After---that---I---invited---him---over---to---my---home,---treated---his---wounds---andgave---him---food.”---Suddently---Alissa---remembers---something---she---had---forgotten---about,---causing---her---eyes---to---widen.---She---quickly---jumps---up---and---runs---into---the---kitchen.
“Oh---thank---Eir,---it---hasn't---burnt.”---With---quick---movements,---she---retrieves---the---meat---from---above---the---fire---and---places---it---to---the---side---to---cool.---After---covering---the---meat---with---a---cloth---sh
e---then---moves---back---towards---the---dining---table.
“Sorry,---I---almost---burnt---the---steak.”
“Yes,---I'm---sure---Artyom---would---have---been---devastated---if---it---had---burned.”---The---grandfather---remarks,---rolling---his---eyes.
Alissa---shrugs,---“Probably---not,---he---seems---happy---with---anything---I---cook.---He---doesn't---speak---much---unless---I---ask---him---questions,---and---even---then---he---gives---very---short---answers.”
“So---you---know---nothing---about---him?”
“I---wouldn't---say---nothing.---I---know---that---he---comes---from---a---country---called---Russia---and---that---he---was---a---[Soldier].---He---also---said---he---had---a---wife---but---she---died…---Um,---I---guess---that's---it…---Wow,---I---actually---don't---know---very---much---about---him---after---all.”